Sainte Claire

Sainte Claire

Map of Sainte Claire

Map of the town within the wider area

Sainte Claire was the location for a holoprogram small town in France on Earth.

Locations within the city included Nazi headquarters, located at no 115 and surrounded by guards. It contained the German radio transmitter. The restaurant Le Coeur de Lion, run by Katrine, acted as a front for the local French Resistance cell. There was also a cinema, Cinéma Mystère, and a building called Parti Français National Socialiste.

Nazi headquarters (located at no 115), which was surrounded by guards and contained the German radio transmitter, and Le Coeur de Lion, a restaurant run by Katrine which acted as a front for the local French Resistance cell. There were also shops advertising the sale of lingerie, Chocolate (as chocolats), perfume (parfums), and tobacco (tabac), a baker, (boulangerie), a locksmith (Serrurier), and a shop called l'Odalisque. There was a wine seller (marchand de vins) who also specialized in liqueur, and at least one cafe, called Chez Renée. (VOY: "The Killing Game", "The Killing Game, Part II")

Located in a valley, outside of the town was countryside, which was defined by several bridges. At least before the war, the city was reachable by train.

Bobby spent the summer of 1936 in the town – where he met, and fell in love with, Brigitte. (VOY: "The Killing Game")

World War II

During World War II, German forces entered it with superior firepower, while their enemy was already weakened.

The French Resistance scrutinized German troop movements the entire Occupation. Allied recon planes also surveyed the city. Furthermore, the resistance had weapons hidden throughout the city. (VOY: "The Killing Game", "The Killing Game, Part II")

American attack

While described it as small and defenseless, German forces and the French resistance alike considered it crucial to the war, as any ground assault into Germany would have to pass through the province it was in. Indeed, if the allies failed to take it, the assault into Germany could fail.

In anticipation of this, the Germans placed three battalions in the city in addition to those already there, and a Panzer division was holding position eleven kilometres away. At one point, the resistance also received intelligence on the positions of two armored divisions outside the city. The night before the American invasion, they were taking up new positions outside the city, and mobilizing more troops then allies sources had expected.

The local French resistence cell believed that American forces would not even be able to approach the city without their help. The US 4th Infantry were to enter the town from the north at dawn light on Tuesday September 25. Two days before the planned invasion of the city, Allied High Command requested that the resistance disable enemy communications.

Moments after they reached the communications, the US 5th Armored Infantry under Captain Miller penetrated the town center, supported by artillery unit Charlie One. Sirens went off in the city. A command post was set up in Le Coeur de Lion, only for German forces to advance on that position shortly after. There also was heavy fighting in the area of Cinéma Mystère. Any air support needed would be offered by the Royal Air Force.

During the final phase of the simulation, a German Kapitän and Chakotay (commanding American troops) both opinied that the German side was winning.

The exteriors of Sainte Claire were filmed at the "European Street" backlot at the Universal Studios through three days in early-December 1997.

The map used to represent Sainte Claire was of Toulouse.